Shaft-bearing.



PATENTEDAPR. w. L R. EMMET & E. 1). DICKINSON.

Him 884 HAPT BEARING.

APPLICATION I I UTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

wuLi n L. R. EMMET AND EDGAR nforcnmsou, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS 'ro GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHAFT-BEARING.

No. seesaw.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed August 23, 1905.1!1121'1211 No. 276,896.

The present invention relates to bearings designed for use with shafts that'are subject to vibration, such for instance as the shafts of turbines and similar high speed up aratus.

In beerings as usually constructs having small clearances, the shaft if subject to vi-- bration is not capable of centering itself end the vibrations rouse pounding on the bearing that has a peening action on the lining. This causes the bearings to wear away rapidly and heat, and also introduces lubrication troubles' Furthermore, the vibration is communicated to the stationary part of the machines, which is objectionablefor various reasons- In the commutator type of dynamoelectric machines this vibration is particularly Objectionable, as it causes sparking the brushes and hence reduces the efliciency.

The object of this invention is to provide a bearing in which the objections referred to above are overcome.

In carryin Y out the invention, the shaft is provided Wit 1 s suitable device that creates a hydraulic pressure which opposes the norme flow from the source of en 'ly and by its sction maintains an annular of lubrics'nt between the shaft and the bearing to dampen the vibrations of the former. A suitable arrangement for this comprises an enlargement on the shaft that is located within the bearing sleeve. This enlargement may in some cases be formed integral with the shaft, but in the preferred form of the invention it is so arable therefrom and driven thereby. If tie shaft is surrounded by a quill, the enlargement may be formed there on or so mreble and driven thereby. Vr'e find it satislactory and desirable to rovide the shaft with e removable floutings eeve that is splined to shaft and h as a limited longitudinsl movement ther- This arrangement has'ths crlvsuztege in event overheating or wear, the shaft is uninjured While the sleeve may be renewed at small expense.

Surrounding the sleeve and separated therefrom by a small clearance or space is a bearing or lining, babbitted or otherwise, having end flanges that embrace the end of the sleeve and which are separated therefrom by small clearances or spaces. A suitable source of supply is arranged to feed lubricant to the anpu er s aces or clearances between the sleeve and tile bearing under .a suitable head. As the sleeve rotates there is acentrifugal action set up by its end surfaces which creates a )ressure suflicient to substantially balance t at of the lubricant received from the source, and in this manner keep the space between the sleeve and bearing filled with lubricant.

It is to be understood that lubricant is continually flowing throu h the clearance between the periphery of t e sleeve andthe lining when the turbine is in operation, and that the pressures created at the ends of the sleeve serve to constantlymaintain the annular film. It also serves to center the sleeve longitudinally within the lin' Under these conditons there is a hydraullc pressure created at one or both ends of the sleeve, which pressure serves to confine the lubricant to its pro )er place. In other words, the rotation of the sleeve causes an annular film of lubricant to be constantly maintained over its entire peri heral surface and also a film between the cm s of the sleeve and the embracing flanges. Without this or some equivalent arrangement the lubricant has a tendency to be distributed unevenly over the surfaces and permits excessive vibration of the shaft. The film thus esteblished insures an effective dash-pot act on and permits of a comparatively large clearance between the relatively rotating parts. The advanta es of this arrangement are ve great .when s afts are driven at high spec s and are consequently subject to vibration.

This type of bearing is especially valuable for vertically disposed shafts, but it may also be used to advantage in many cases where the shafts occupy horizontal positions.

In some cases we find it desirable to provide small radial rooves in one or both ends of shaft-driven s coves, since by so doing upon .the conditions of operation of the machine.- In the following description, the invention will be described more in detail, while the a novel features will be set forth 1n theclainis marily for use in connection with elastiei represented at 2.

ap ended hereto.

n the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a guide bearing of a vert1eal shaft turbine;

' and Fig.2 is'a bottom plan view of the shaft sleeve.

. The construction shown is designed lprii turbines of the vertical haft type, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such use.

1 re resentsa portion of a vertical shaft exten 111g through the head of the turbine The guide bearing is suported on a stool 3 that is seated on the ead 2. It comprises a cylindrical easing 4 whose under-surface is shouldered at 5 to fit in and rest upon the upper annular end of the stool. The casing is preferably made in two or more sections divisible in an axial plane. The interior ol' the casing is cylindrically bored and provided with an internal shoulder 6, and fitting therein and resting on the shoulder is a shell 7 that is preferably linedwith Babbitt metal 8 in any suitable manner. On the shaft is secured 9 inclosed by the shell 7. The upper and lo'wer ends of the shell are provided with flanges ll) and 11 which embrace the ends ofthe sleeve, the said flanges being also lined with babbitt. A clearance of suitable dimension is provided between the lining and the;

shaft sleeve so as to form the pocket for the film or body of lubricating, fluid. it is "sometimes necessary to adjust the shaft the longitudinallvand in order to permit this to be done without affecting the relative positions of the sleeve and lining the iornicr is sphned to the shaft.

Lubricant is supplied from a suitable source, such as a gravity fce'd tnnlgby a conduit 12 that extends through an opening in the casing 4 and screws into the shell 7, where/it discharges into a vertical groove 13 in the lining.- The groove extends from end toend of the lining and formsa branched path for the lluid so that the latter can be fed throughout'the lengthof the clearance. By

expernnent it has been determined that the best results are obtainable by locatiii'g' the about two-thirds the height of the sleeve. By this arrangement the lhud sup )lltil lo the groove 13 is carried around with t 1e rotation a sleeve supply-conduit 12 nearer to theupper end of. iearlng than to the lower, or at a point stitute devices which offer resistance to the free discharge of the fluid by setting up? an opposing pressure at the ends of the annular c earance whereby a uniform unbroken column of fluid is maintained throughout the latter.

The ends of.

The centrifugal action of the ends of 1 the sleeve may be increased by providing ra- Y dial grooves 14,. as shown in ig. 2. The action at the ends of the sleeve is not intend-. ed, however, to prevent the fluid from being discharged from the bearing; for this urpose drainage facilities are provided. ms, in

the lower annular flange 11 is provided an H annular collecting groove 'or channel 15 which'reeeives fluid from the lower end of the annular clearance and discharges it throu h one or more draina e passages 16. In t e cylindrical wall of the upper annular flange 10 is a collecting groove 17 that collects any fluid which may be discharged from the upper end'of the bearing and discharges it through one or more passages'l8 into a chamher I formed between the casing and shell of the bearing. Below the bearing and preferably cast with the stool is a chamber 220 that serves as a basin to receive the drainagefrom lmth'ei'idfs'ofthe hearing. Passages 16 and 21 convey the lubricant thereto. der to prevent any leakage of fluid from creeping dowi'i the shaft a deflector 22 is ar ranged on theshait which deflects the fluid from the'la'tter into the basin 20 by reason of.

centrifugal force. The fluid is conveyed awa from the basin by the dischz'nge-pipe 23. W hen the shaft is stationary the sleeve S) rests at its lower end onthe lower flange- )ort ion 11 of the hearin as shown; but during rotation the sleeve becomes centered by reason of some of the fluid leaving the radial grooves and working in between the ungrooved portions of the sleeve jacent wall of the bearing.

ln iu-cordance with the provisions of the patent statutes we have deseribed'the principle of operation of our. invention, together"- wzth the ap iaratus which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but we desire. to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that. the invention can be carried out by other means.

.m what we claim as new, and desire to secureiiy Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The con bin'atiofipf a bearing, ameans for supplying lubricant thereto, a shaft and means carried by said shaft which means by n orand. the adits rotary motion creates a hydraulic pressure that continuousl maintains an annular cushioning film 0 lubricant between it and the bearing. a

2. The combination of a bearing, a means for supplying lubricant thereto, a shaft and means carried by said shaft which means by its rotary motion distributes the lubricant 1n a film over the entire annular surfaceofv the bearing, and at the same time creates a hydraulic ressure at one or both ends of the bearing w ich continuously annular film intact. ,1 p

3. Thecombination of a bearing, a means for supplying lubricant thereto, ashaft and means carried by said shaft which means by its rotary motion. creates a hydraulic pressure that continuousl maintains an annular cushioning film of In icant between it and the bearing and in addition thereto opposes the tendency of the lubricant to leak out around the ends of the bearing.

4. The combination of a bearing, a means for supplying lubricanh thereto, a shaft, and the shaft, one end of a sleeve rotated bi which creates a ydraulic pressure and maintains .a body of lubricant .'between the peripheral surface of the sleeve'and the bearing to dampen the vibrations of the to dampen th l 6. The combination of a shaft adapted to 5. The combination of a bearing, a means for suppl 'ng lubricant thereto under a suitable head a shaft, and .a sleeve which is free to float longitudinally of the shaft and by its rotation to create a hydraulic pressure that constantly maintains an annular body of lubricant between the sleeve and bearing e vibrations, of the shaft.

rotate at high speed, a cylindrical'sleeve thereon having a smooth uninterrupted periphery, a bearing around the sleeve that 1s separated from its periphery by a clearance through which fluid is adapted to flow continuously, one or more devlces arranged-and adapted to resist the flow of fluid and. cause l the same to be evenly distributed throughout the clearance, and-means for supplying fluid to the clearance forTcushionmg the shaft.

7. The combination of a vertical shaft adapted to rotate at high speed, a.sleeve thereon, a bearing surrounding the sleeve and separated by a clearance and having I portions that embrace the ends thereo fheans for maintaining a body of fluid between the bearing and sleeve to cushion the shaft, and means at the lower end of the sleeve which "creates a hydraulic ressure that assists in evenly distributing t e fluid throu bout the clearance. x 8. The combination of a vertical shaft adapted to rotate at high speed, -'a sleeve thereon, a bearing surrounding the sleeve and separated by a clearance and having maintainsthe caring, and means at the lower end of the I sleeve which acts u on the fluid in a manner to assist in evenly istributing it throughout the clearance. I

9. The combination of a vertical shaft, a

sleeve thereon having radial grooves inits lower end, a bearing around the sleeve that is arated therefrom by a clearance through "ch fluid is adapted to flow and discharge at both ends of the bearings, a wall adjacent to the grooved end of the sleeve which 006 crates therewith to resist the flow of fluid from the lower end of the bearing and causes the fluid to bedistributed throughout the clearance, and means for supplying fluid continuously to the clearance to lubricate the bearing surfaces and to cushionthe vibrations of the shaft. 10. The combination of a vertical shaft, a sleeve thereon having radial grooves in its lower end, a bearing around the sleeve that is se arated therefrom by a clearance through w ich fluid is adapted to flow and discharge '90 v at both ends of the bearings, a wall adjacent to the grooved end of the sleeve which coopcrates therewith to resist the flow of lhn'd from the lower end of the bearing and causes the fluid to be distributed throughout the clearance, means for supplying lluid continuously to the clearance to lubricate the bear-' shaft, and a collecting channel in the said wall from which fluid drains from the lower end of the bearing.

11. The combination of a vertical shaft, a sleeve thereonhaving radial grooves in its lower end, abearing around the sleeve that is separated therefrom by a clearance through which fluid is adapted to flow and discharge mg surfaces and to reduce vibration of the at both ends of the bearings, a wall-adjacent to the'grooved end of the sleeve which e06 eratestherewith to resist thcflow of fluid from the lower end of the bearing and causes the fluidto be distributed throughout the clearance, means for supplying fluir continuously to the clearanceto lubricate the hearing surfaces and to reduce vibration of the shaft, a collecting channel in the said wallv throu h which fluid drains from the lower -end 0 the bearing, and means at the upper I end of the bearing-for conveying away the (lrainag etherefrom;

I 12. he combinat on of a vertical shaft, a sleeve thereon.having. radialgrooves in ts lower end, a bearing around the sleeve that is selparated therefrom by a clearance through w lch'fluid'is adapted to flow-and discharge 7 at both ends of the bearings, a wall adjacent td the grooved end of the sleeve which cooperates therewith to resist the flow of fluul from the lower end of the bearing and causes the \fluid to be distributed throughout the clearance, means fer supplying fluid continuouslytothe'clearance to lubricate the bearing surfaces and to reduce ibration of the sl1aft,fieollecting channel in the said well through whicl1 flui .l drains from the lower end of the bearing, means at the upper end of the bearing for conve ing away the drainage therefreni, and a col eating basin below the 

